These are the spots you shouldn’t pop

Contrary to the thousands of pimple-popping YouTube tutorials out there, there are some spots you should never attempt to squeeze yourself. And while it’s ever so tempting to sit in front of your magnifying mirror with a box of tissues and go HAM on all the bumps and blemishes, most experts would advise against this full stop.

There are five common groups of bumps that have plagued most people at one point in time, and Dr Cook has detailed how to best attack them while minimising your risk of scarring.

Instagram @drnatashacook @payotaustraliaSource:BodyAndSoul

Ingrown hairs: No matter how pick-able they look, squeezing them will almost certainly do you more harm than good. “It simply creates trauma without addressing or releasing the ingrown, leading to inflammation and scarring,” explains Dr Cook. Depending on how deep it is, a dermatologist may need to be brought in to express and release the ingrown with a sterile needle. Laser hair removal can also drastically reduce your risk of getting them in the first place.

Cold-sores: You’d be asking for trouble going after one of these bad boys, as they are highly contagious and could easily spread to the rest of your face, tissue or no tissue. Dr Cook explains how to tell them apart from normal pimples by the “tingling sensation which usually accompanies a cold sore. Before they come to the surface, they look like groups of little clear fluid-filled blisters, whereas pimples tend to be red or yellow.”

Milia: Ever noticed tiny white bumps on your face that refuse to pop – no matter how hard you try? These are Milia, and they are ‘non-poppable’ according to Dr Cook. “They don’t have an opening on the skin, as they are encased like a cyst.” You’ll need to seek an expert to get rid of them with a fine needle expression to break the surface and pop the cyst out.

Red Bunpy: You probably remember this patch of rough dry skin (commonly known as sandpaper skin) from your younger years, as most people grow out it, but not everyone. “The best treatment is using a cream that has cell exfoliating properties, or keratin dissolving ingredients like salicylic acid and lactic acid. Prescriptive Vitamin A at night followed by a moisturizer can also assist,” explains Dr Cook.

Cystic Acne Pimples: Sorry to disappoint, but you are better leaving these alone if you want to avoid scarring as they are far too deep to reach. Again, consult a dermatologist if it’s really worrying you, or wait it out with some drying pimple cream like this one from Payot.

And as for pimples you can pop, Dr Cook says it’s okay to squeeze traditional blackheads and whiteheads so long as they are right on the surface of the skin, and you use a tissue. “A salicylic acid or lactic acid can alternatively dissolve them if you’re not game.”